Method of making container closure construction

ABSTRACT

A tag ring element having a neck portion and a base portion and bordering the openings in container walls and methods and apparatus for at least partially forming the same during the application of the closure elements to the container walls, including means for automatically feeding and positioning blanks for such tag ring elements in position for securement during the securing of closure elements about said container wall openings. The tag ring elements may be preformed to varying degrees depending upon the means for holding them in the dies and may be of varying thicknesses, depending on whether they serve as the sole securing neck for securing closure flanges to container wall openings, whether they reinforce lightweight necks formed in the container wall, or whether they principally serve to provide eyelets for the attachment of various elements thereto. In a particular instance, the tag ring element flat blanks are fed into the dies which perforate container walls, draw necks up from the same form and secure the tag ring elements thereto, and secure closure flanges within such necks in one stroke of a press. Particular feeding and holding means for the tag ring elements for the automatic application of the same to container wall necks simultaneously with the application of the closure flange to the opening being formed, is provided in the instance of single stroke application of closures to the container walls.

United States Patent Jesevich et al.

[45] Apr.2,19741 METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: John Jesevich, Cicero; Vyto Simkus,

Chicago, both of I11.

[73] Assignee: American Flange & Manufacturing 1 Co., Inc., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 131,258

[52] US. Cl 29/4322, 29/512, 29/243.52, 113/121 E, 220/39 B [51] Int. Cl 823p 11/00 [58] Field of Search 29/512, 243.52, 432, 432.2; 113/121 E; 220/39 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,451 10/1925 Mauck 113/121 E UX 1,777,772 10/1930 Shera 29/243.52 2,325,929 8/1943 Amesbury et al 29/243.52 X 3,082,850 3/1963 Weening 29/512 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,055,230 1/1967 Great Britain 220/39 B 1,432,274 11/1968 Germany 220/39 B Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham [57] ABSTRACT A tag ring element having a neck portion and a base portion and bordering the openings in container walls and methods and apparatus for at least partially forming the same during the application of the closure elements to the container walls, including means for automatically feeding and positioning blanks for such tag ring elements in position for securement during the securing of closure elements about said container wall openings. The tag ring elements may be preformed to varying degrees depending upon the means for holding them in the dies and may be of varying thicknesses, depending on whether they serve as the sole securing neck for securing closure flanges to container wall openings, whether they reinforce lightweight necks formed in the container wall, or whether they principally serve to provide eyelets for the attachment of various elements thereto. In a particular instance, the tag ring element flat blanks are fed into the dies which perforate container walls, draw necks up from the same form and secure the tag ring elements thereto, and secure closure flanges within such necks in one stroke of a press. Particular feeding and holding means for the tag ring elements for the automatic application of the same to container wall necks simultaneously with the application of the closure flange to the opening being formed, is provided in the instance of single stroke application of closures to the con tainer walls.

8 Ciaims, 25 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2 I974 sum 1 nr 7 PATENTEMPR 2014 SHEEF 6 BF 7 ATTO METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the industrial container field, particularly in the fabrication of steel drums, it has long been the practice to mechanically secure a closure flange, for reception of a threaded plug, within an opening formed in a container wall. One method of inserting flanges in container walls has been carried out by a metal working die which forms an opening in the container wall and mechanically inserts the flange in a single operation. In many instances, however, it is desirable to also include an annular tag ring in the insertion which surrounds the upstanding container wall opening neck and is permanently held in place by the outwardly curled bead at the uppermost end of the flange neck. One function of such tag ring is to provide an effective means for securing a tag for identifying the container contents. In many instances tag rings also serve as means for affixing a wire and lead seal which is threaded through the closure plug for tamperproofing purposes. In addition, with the increasing trend toward the use of lighter gage metal in the fabrication of industrial shipping containers, it is advantageous to employ such tag rings for reinforcing the container wall opening neck to meet necessary strength requirements.

Heretofore, it was thought only possible to include such tag ring by hand feeding in flange insertions carried out in a two-step operation wherein the container wall is perforated and the surrounding container wall opening neck drawn upwardly therearound in a first punch press operation. In the second operation, the flange neck is inserted within the container wall opening from beneath whereby the tag ring could be placed over the container wall opening exteriorally surrounding the opening neck. The upper end of the flange neck is then curled outwardly so as to permanently secure the flange and the tag ring to the underlying container wall opening neck. The above described two operation flange insertion arrangement, however, is relatively costly and unsuited for high speed container fabricating processes.

The invention is particularly adaptable to the application of tag ring elements in a single operation flange insertion arrangement. This is accomplished by feeding flanges and tag ring elements into a die for insertion within a container wall in asingle stroke of the press. More specifically, a flange is fed into the lower half of the die together with the feeding of a tag ring element into the upper half of the die. A container wall is then positioned in the die between the flange and tag ring element. The press is cycled, causing a perforating punch in the upper die to move downwardly through the tag ring element and perforate the container wall. Continued downward movement of the upper die causes a neck to be drawnupwardly about the container wall opening with the tag ring element positioned in overlying concentric relationship about the opening neck. Final closing of the die forms the container wall down over the flange and curls the upper end of the flange neck outwardly about the container wall opening neck and tag ring element, permanently securing the flange and the tag ring element to the container wall.

It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a new method and apparatus for securing closure flanges and tag ring elements to container walls in a single operation.

A further object is to provide a new method and apparatus for feeding closure flanges and tag ring elements into a die for securing said flanges and tag ring elements to a container wall.

Another object is to provide a new tag ring element for securement together with a closure flange to a container wall in a-single operation.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will in part be obvious and be in part pointed out as the description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a closure flange and a tag ring element flat blank in accordance with one form of the invention as they would appear aligned ready for application about a container opening;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the feed mechanism for feeding the tag ring element and closure flange of FIG. 1 into operative position in an insertion die as illustrated;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the feed mechanism and die of FIG. 2 with such feed mechanism in advanced position within the die and carrying a closure flange and tag ring element;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the feed mechanism in full feeding ejecting position;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the insertion die in open position, the feeding mechanism having been retracted and the closure flange, tag ring element and container wall being properly positioned ready for the securing operation;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the die in the stage following that of FIG. 7 showing that the container wall has been perforated;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but with the die further advanced and having partially formed the container wall neck and tag ring element neck about the closure flange;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the die at the stage following that of FIG. 9 with a container wall neck and tag ring element neck formed ready for the curling of the closure flange portion thereover;

FIG. I l is a vertical section of substantially all of the die mechanism showing the closure flange in secured position in the container wall opening and curled over at its upper end to retain the fully formed tag ring element in place;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a modified partially formed tag ring element;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the modified tag ring element of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16 and including a section ofa tag ring element and the support therefore, showing one of the spring pins approaching the eyelet in thetag ring element;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing the spring pin already received in the tag ring element eyelet and holding the same in the insertion die;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but showing a modified form of embossing ring for holding a tag ring element in place therein;

FIG. 20 is a view taken on line 2020 of FIG. 19 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view with a part broken away and shown in section of a completely assembled closure flange, tag ring element and section of container wall in accordance with the foregoing embodiments;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 2222 of FIG. 21 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 21 including a further modified form of tag ring element;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 18 showing an arrangement modified for holding the tag ring element of FIG. 23 in place in the die; and

FIG. 25 is a view taken on line 25-25 of FIG. 24 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Considering first the closure flange and invention tag ring element, such being the articles which the method and apparatus of the invention are concerned, FIG. 1 shows a conventional closure flange 1 comprising a cy lindrical neck 2 having an upper unthreaded portion 3 and an internally threaded lower portion 4 surrounded by an octagonal base 5. An annular gasket 6 surrounds the cylindrical neck at the juncture of the threaded lower portion 4 and the flange base 5. The tag ring element 7 of one form of the invention is formed as a flat blank having a circular inner free edge 8 bordering a central opening and terminating in outermost octagonal free edge 9. A series of eyelets 10 are formed in the tag ring element 7 adjacent the free edge 9 at the corners of the octagon.

In FIGS. 2 through 6 the feed mechanism, generally indicated at 11, is shown for feeding a closure flange and tag ring element together into an insertion die. A horizontally disposed pneumatic drive cylinder 12 is secured to a metal working punch press (not shown) within which the insertion die is mounted. The cylinder piston rod 13 is directed toward the insertion die and has a nut 14 threadedly engaging its distal end. An L- shaped frame 15 has an upstanding wall 16 provided with an opening 17 through which the piston rod 13 slidingly extends. A collar 18 is fixed to the piston rod 13 for engagement by a coil compression spring 19 which surrounds the piston rod 13 and normally urges the upstanding wall 16 against the nut 14. A pair of rods 20 are connected to the cylinder 12 excending parallel to the piston rod 13 are provided with stop nuts 21 at their outer ends. The upstanding wall 16 of the frame 15 is provided with a pair of apertures 22 through which the rods 20 extend.

The L-shaped frame 15 has a horizontal leg 23 terminating in a cylindrical collar 24 adapted internally for the reception of a closure flange 1. Such receiving opening 24a has a lowermost annular double stepped formation 25 within which the flange base 5 and gasket 'is mounted within the wall of the collar 24 to extnd within the oepning 24a for frictional engagement with the flange neck 2. A lower plunger 27, formed as an incomplete annulus is slidingly positioned within the opening 24a and is provided with a diametrically extending internal pin 28. An elongated lower pivot arm 29 pivotally connected at 30 to a leg 23 extends inwardly through cutout portions in collar 24 and plunger 27, terminating in a forked inner end 31 which slidingly receives the pin 28. An upwardly opening slot 32 is formed in the inner end of the lower pivot arm 29 directl above the pivot connection 30. A vertically extending bracket 33 is connected to the nut 14 at the end of piston rod 13, and carries lower and upper transversely extending pivot pins 34 and 35 respectively. The lower of these pins 34 is slidably and pivotally received within the slot 32 in the arm 29.

An upstanding cylindrical sleeve 36 is secured to the upper portion of the collar 24 and is formed with a radially outwardly extending projection 37. An upper elongated pivot arm 39 overlies the arm 29 and has its inner end pivotally connected at 38 to the collar projection 37. The upper pivot arm 39 has generally the same configuration as the lower pivot arm 29 and is provided at its inner end with a slot 40 positioned below the pivot connection 38 for slidable and pivotal engagement with the pivot pin 35 carried by the bracket 33. The pivot arm 29 extends through an opening in the sleeve 36 and terminates in a forked inner end 41. An upper tublar plunger 42 slidably received within the sleeve 36 is also formed with an opening through which the arm 39 extends. A diametrically extending internal pin 43 secured within the upper plunger 42 is seated for slidable and pivotal movement within the forked end 41 of the arm 39. A vertical keyway 48 is formed in the exterior surface of the plunger 42 and a pin 44 seated in the outer sleeve 36 projects into the groove 48 to prevent relative rotational movement between the sleeve 36 and plunger 42. The upper portion of the upper plunger 42 is surrounded by a spring biased vertically slidable compression ring 45 supported in raised position by a plurality of coil springs 46 acting against a ledge 49. The upper surface of the compression ring 45 is recessed at 47 so that when the ring 45 is in its uppermost position a flat continuous surface is presented by the surface of the recess 47 and the upper end of the plunger 42. The recess 47 has an octagonal border so that a flat tag ring element 7 can be securely nested therein to extend across the top of the plunger 42. In this position the element 7 is ready to be transferred to a receiving portion of the insertion die to be described.

The insertion die into which the closure flange and tag ring element are fed comprises lower and upper die sub-assemblies. The lower die sub-assembly 50, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 11, has a lower die shoe 51 for mounting on a punch press bolster plate (not shown) and is provided with a central aperture 52. A tubular flanging punch 53 is centrally supported on the die shoe 51 with its lower end extending into the aperture 52. A series of coil compression springs 54 interacting between the die shoe 51 and a circumferentially enlarged lower portion 55 of the flanging punch 53 resiliently urge the flanging punch upwardly. An annular support 56 surrounds the flanging punch 53 and has a radially inwardly projecting ledge 57 which limits the upward movement of the flanging punch 53. An annular lower anvil 58 surrounds an interme'tiiate portion of the flanging punch 53 above the enlarged lower portion 55 thereof and is secured to the supporting ring ledge 57. An annular compression ring 59 having an octagonal interior surface 64 surrounds the anvil 58 exending vertically thereabove thus forming a circumferential recess 60 about the flanging punch 53 spaced below its upper end. A series of vertical pins 61 seated on coil compression springs 62 resiliently urge the compression ring 59 upwardly with respect to the die shoe 51. An inwardly projecting lip 63 at the upper end of the support 56 limits upward movement of the compression ring 59.

The upper die sub-assembly 70 has an upper die shoe 71 mounted on the ram of a punch press (not shown). A perforating punch 72 is centrally mounted on the upper die shoe 71 in vertical concentric alignment with the flanging punch 53. An annular curling anvil 73 surrounding the perforating punch 72 is provided with an annular concave curling anvil surface 72 vertically spaced above the lower end of the perforating punch 72. An embossing ring 75 surrounds the curling anvil 73 and is resiliently urged downwardly by a series of coil compression springs 76 surrounding mounting bolts 76a and acting between the embossing ring and the die shoe 71. The embossing ring 73 terminates in a lowermost downwardly facing embossing surface 77 normally disposed in a horizontal plane intermediate the curling anvil surface 74 and the lower end of the perforating punch 72. The surface 77 terminates radially inwardly in a short vertical wall 78 having an octagonal configuration. From the wall 78 the embossing surface extends by way of a radiused juncture portion 80 into an upper embossing surface 79 extending radi ally inwardly.

The operation of the feed mechanism and insertion die described above in the inserting of the flange and applying the tag ring element of the invention is as follows: Through the use of article handling mechanisms (not shown) a closure flange l is inserted within the collar 24 in properly oriented nested position and a tag ring element 7 is similarly placed in properly oriented nested position within the compression ring 45. The pneumatic cylinder 12 is then activated causing the piston rod 13 to move the frame 15 inwardly along the rods 20. As seen in FIG. 4, the stop nuts 21 are set to terminate forward movement of the frame 15 when the flange and tag ring are properly aligned in the insertion die between the flanging punch 53 and the perforating punch 72. Continued advancement of the piston rod 13 compresses the spring 19 and moves the bracket 33 forward relative to the wall 16. As seen in FIG. 6, the above described limited movement pivots the forked endof the arms 29 and 39 away from each other. As the plunger 27 is moved downwardly by the action of the arm end 31 on the pin 28, it pushes the flange 1 free from the grip of the ball spring 26 and ejects it from the collar 24. The flange is thus seated about the flanging punch 53 within the octagonal wall 64 onto the lower anvil 58. At the same time the upper plunger 42 is moved upwardly by the action of the arm end 41 on the pin 43 causing the compression ring 45 to contact the working surface 77 on the embossing ring 71. The plunger 42 continues to move upwardly a slight amount against the compression of springs 46 so that the upper end of the plunger 42 releases the tag ring from the v compression ring cutout 47 and seats the tag ring element 7 up within the embossing ring surface 79 in oriented nested relationship within the octagonal wall 78. Various friction fit and spring pin arrangements may be employed for holding the tag ring element within the embossing ring, the details of which will be further described hereinafter.

Once the closure flange and tag ring element are positioned in the die, the travel of the piston rod 13 is reversed causing retraction of the feed mechanism to its original position away from between the die subassemblies. As shown in FIG. 7, a container wall 90, such as the head of a 55 gallon steel drum, is then positioned in the die by suitable guides (not shown) readying the press for cycling to effect the insertion stroke. As that stroke proceeds the upper die sub-assembly closes on the lower die sub-assembly 50 and the perforating punch 72 as seen in FIG. 8, punches out a slug leaving an opening defined by a circular edge 91 in the container wall. The container wall, about the opening 91, seats on the end of the flanging punch 53 which remains extended at this point as the perforating force is not great enough to overcome the resistance of compression springs 54.

As the perforating punch moves downward, the slug is pushed out of the die through the center of the flanging punch. As seen in FIG. 9, the embossing ring surface 77 pushes the container wall against the lower anvil 59 which also moves downwardly as the resistance offered by springs 62 is overcome. The drum wall metal immediately surrounding the opening 91, together with hte overlying tag ring element portion adjacent the inner edge 8 thereof, are drawn upwardly around the flange body while the embossing ring surface 79 forces the peripheral portion of the tag ring element downwardly.

In FIG. 10, the embossing ring is shown at the lower limit of its travel with the upper surface of the compression ring 59 in horizontal alignment with the upper surface of the anvil 58. In this position of the die the embossing surfaces 77 and 79 on embossing ring form the container wall 90 with an embossment 92 closely overlying the flange base 5 and terminating in an up wardly formed neck 93 closely surrounding the flange neck 2. The tag ring element 7 is at the same time completed by being made to conform to and closely overlie the underlying container wall neck 93 and the upper surface of the embossment 92. The radiused juncture portion of the embossing ring forms the tag ring element outer edge 9 somewhat downwardly over the periphery of the container wall embossment. It is also seen in FIG. 10 how the curling anvil surface 74 on the curling anvil 73 contacts the uppermost unthreaded neck portion 3 of the flange 1 and turns the neck 3 radially outwardly.

FIG. 11 shows the assembly with the insertion stroke completed following the continued downward travel of the curling anvil 73 to force the flanging punch 53 downwardly by overcoming the resistance of compression springs 54. Thus the curling anvil surface 74 has curled the flange neck portion 3 outwardly and downwardly over the upwardly facing container wall opening edge 91 and the tag ring element inner edge 8, into a tightly closed bead which permanently secures the flange and the tag ring element about the container wall opening with the gasket 6 blocking off any possible leakage path between the flange and the container wall.

FIGS. 12 through show how the above described punch press operation can be carried out using a modified form of tag ring element 107 having a flat base 108 terminating in an octagonally shaped outer free edge 109. A partially preformed conical neck 110 excends upwardly and radially inwardly from the inner edge 1 11 of the tag ring element base 108 at approximaely 25 degrees to the vertical and terminates in a circular free edge 112. Eyelets 113 are formed in the base 108 at each corner of the octagon closely adjacent the free edge 109.

The insertion operation is carried out in basically the same manner as with the flat tag ring element 7 except that, as seen in FIG. 14, the initial closing of the embossing ring 75 on the anvil 59 forms just the container wall over the flange neck 2 as the tag ring element 107 remains held within the embossing ring wall 78. As the embossing ring 75 moves downwardly, the embossing surface 79 forms the tag ring element neck 110 into engagement with the underlying partially formed container wall opening neck as seen in FIG. 15. Completion of the insertion stroke with the modified tag ring element 107 is substantially identical to that illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 with the completed tag ring element 107 having its neck 119 formed to conform to the underlying upstanding container wall oepning neck 93.

FIGS. 16 and 18 show the details of the embossing ring 75 for retaining the tag ring element 7, or altematively the tag ring elemnt 107, in the upper die subassembly 70. A pair of spring loaded retaining pins 81 are mounted for reciprocating movement in the embossing ring 75 and project downwardly and slightly radially inwardly from the embossing surface 78 at a slight angle to the vertical. Each of the spring loaded pins 81 is resiliently urged toward extended position by a light coil compression spring 82 held in place in a bore behind the pin end by a set screw 83. The pins 81 are located in the embossing surface 78 at diametrically spaced positions at the corners of the octagon so as to line up with the tag ring eyelets 10.

In operation when the tag ring element 7 is pushed up within the octagonal embossing ring wall 78 by the upper plunger 42 as above described, free ends of the pins 81 first strike the inner edge of the eyelets 10 and partially retract. Continued upward movement of the tag ring element retracts the pins to a position where their free ends slip through the eyelets and hold the tag ring elemnt in place against the embossing ring juncture portion 80 as seen in FIG. 18. Disengagement of the pins 81 from the eyelets 10 takes place by the action of the die closing and forcing the pins 81 back up to a fully retracted position within the embossing ring.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a modified embossing ring 175 which provides for retention of an octagonal tag ring element 7 by friction fit engagement in place of the spring pins above described. To accomplish this, the embossing ring 175, like the embossing ring 75 of the principal embodiment, has a lower embossing surface 177 surrounding an octagonally shaped vertical inner wall 178 which is in turn joined to an upper embossing surface 179 by a radiused juncture portion 180. Two diametrically opposed flats of the octagonal wall 178 have downwarldy and radially inwardly tapered portions 181 so dimensioned that the distance between the lower ends of the tapered portions 181 is slightly less than the dimension across the flats of the tag ring element. Accordingly, as the tag ring element 7 is pushed up into the embossing ring 175 by the upper plunger 42, that element is slightly flexed across the two flats engaging the tapered embossing ring portions 181. This allows the tag ring element to snap within the embossing ring wall 178. The hodling effect here is adequate to retain the tag ring element 7 within the embossing ring during the insertion stroke. Once the tag ring element is formed into a neck and base and is permanently held in place by the flange curl 8, as in the FIG. 11 showing, its outer free edge 9 readily snaps past the restricted tapered sections 181 as the die opens.

Considering further the finished closure container wall assembly as seen in FIG. 21, the cutaway section thereof shows the finished tag ring element 7 formed to closely surround the underlying container wall opening neck 93 thus acting as an effective thickening and desirable reinforcement of the container wall neck surrounding the flange. This is particularly advantageous in the case of light gage metal containers where the tag ring element may even be formed from material considerably heavier than the container wall in order to adequately support the inserted flange in the drum neck. It may even be desirable in certain instances to eliminate the container wall opening neck all together and utilize the tag ring neck formed in accordance with the invention as the sole securing neck for securing flanges with respect to container walls.

In the enlarged fragmentary section of FIG. 22, the relationship between the tag ring element 7 and container wall embossment 93 is clearly shown. From this it can be seen that the tag ring free edge 9 is spaced slightly upwardly, as indicated at 94, from the border of the underlying container wall embossment 93. The gap 94 is partially created during the insertion operation by the container wall metal being pulled over the sharp edge of the flange base 5 at a sharper radius than the radius to which the tag ring element outer edge is formed by the radiused juncture portion in the embossing ring. The gap 94 is also contributed to by a certain amount of vertical spring back which naturally occurs along the edge 9 upon the release of the pressure of the embossing ring. The purpose of the gap 94 is to provide accessibility to the tag ring eyelets 10 through which a string or wire can be secured carrying a tag for identifying the container contents. A wire and lead closure seal can also be employed by threading a wire through an eyelet of a closure plug (not shown) threadedly engaged in the flange 1 then threading it through one or more of the eyelets l0 and clinching its ends within a lead seal. The gap 94 normally sufficiently exposes the eyelet 10 for threading of a thin wire therethrough. If not, the gap provides an easy access point to insert an implement for deflecting the tag ring element edge 9 upwardly to expose the eyelet far enough for the insertion of even a heavier wire through the eyelet 10. Formation of the tag ring element outer edge portion of the manner shown, allows the tag ring element to advantageously perform its intended function without presenting any sharp or protruding metal edges to injure one s hands. Any hazard attendant to the common practice of wiping off the top of the container around the closure opening is prevented.

A further modified tag ring element and embossing ring for holding the same are illustrated in FIGS. 23

through 25. Here the tag ring element 207 is shown as a flat blank having a circular inner edge 208 and a circular outer edge 209 interrupted by a pair of radially outwardly protruding, diametrically opposite ears 211 formed with eyelets 210. It should be noted that the tag ring element 207 could also be fabricated with a partially preformed neck as shown in the modified tag ring element 107 of FIG. 12. In FIGS. 24 and 25, the tag ring element 107 is shown as pressed up within a modified embossing ring 275 having a lower embossing surface 277 and an upper embossing surface 279 joined together by a vertical octagonal wall 278. Two diametrically opposed cutout portions 280 are formed in the embossing surface 277 for reception fo the tag ring ears 211. A pair of spring biased pins 281 comparable to those of FIGS. 17 and 18 project down into the cutout portions 280 for engagement within the eyelets 210 in the tag ring ears 211. The tag ring element 207 is worked into its final form in the course of the insertion operation as abovedescribed. However, the tag ring element outer edge 209 lies within the confines of the underlying octagonal container wall embossment 92, as seen in FIG. 23, while the ears 211 extend past the outer edge of the embossment to overlie the surrounding container wall in spaced relationship with respect thereto.

The concept of forming a tag ring element out of a flat blank during the flange insertion operation also lends itself to container fabricating installations set up to insert flanges in two separate punch press operations. In the first of these the die actions perforate the container wall, draw up the neck and form the embossment around it. In the second operation the die inserts the flange and curls its upper end over the end of the container wall opening neck. In the two-step operation, as in the single operation flange insertion, the tag ring element can be automatically fed into and held in the upper die sub-assembly of either the first or second operation die and formed over the container wall opening neck and surrounding embossment, resulting in the finished assembly of completed tag ring element, flange and drum stock as shown.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and seek to protect by Letter Patent is:

1. The method of simultaneously securing a closure flange and a tag ring element to a container wall in a single punch press operation, comprising the steps of supporting a closure flange including a cylindrical neck having an upper unthreaded portion and a lower internally threaded portion surrounded by a polygonal base, positioning an annular tag ring element in vertically tainer wall and said tag ring element during said secur- 4. The method of simultaneously securing a closure flange and a tag ring element to a container wall in a single punch press operation comprising the steps of positioning an internally threaded closure flange in a lower die sub-assembly, retaining an annular tag ring element on an upper die sub-assembly operatively positioned above said lower die sub-assembly, positioning a container wall between said upper and lower die subassemblies, closing said upper die sub-assembly on said lower die sub-assembly and permanently securing said closure flange and said tag ring element about an opening formed in said container wall.

5. The method as in claim 4 and forming said tag ring element with an upstanding neck from a flat blank during said securing.

6. The method as in claim 4 and deforming said container wall and said tag ring element during said forming.

7. The method of reinforcing container wall openings and providing identifying tag and closure seal affixing means comprising the steps of horizontally supporting a flat annular tag ring element having a central opening, horizontally positioning a container wall section in vertically spaced relationship below said tag ring element, performing said container wall to form an opening therein, drawing a neck in said container wall section upwardly about said opening, simultaneously drawing a neck upwardly from said tag ring element about the opening therein with said tag ring element neck closely surrounding said container wall opening neck and inserting an internally threaded closure flange within said container wall opening neck.

8. The method as in claim 7 and deforming said flange so as to permanently secure said flange and said tag ring element to said container wall about said open- @FFEQE Dated April 2 197 Patent No.

Inv n r) John e eeevich e": ale

It is certified, that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

7 In Claim 7, line 39 per-forming" should be chengeci to read perforating Signed sealed this 10th day of September 197 MCCGY M; GIBSON, JRO c. MARSHALL DANN Atcesting Gffi'cer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC GOING-P69 w u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE mus o-aas-su.

FORM 2 04050 (10- 59) 

1. The method of simultaneously securing a closure flange and a tag ring element to a container wall in a single punch press operation, comprising the steps of supporting a closure flange including a cylindrical nEck having an upper unthreaded portion and a lower internally threaded portion surrounded by a polygonal base, positioning an annular tag ring element in vertically spaced concentric relationship above said closure flange, placing an imperforate container wall between said closure flange and said tag ring element, vertically displacing said tag ring element and said closure flange toward each other, perforating a concentric opening in said container wall and permanently securing said closure flange and said tag ring element about said container wall opening.
 2. The method as in claim 1 and forming said tag ring element with an upstanding neck from a flat blank during said securing.
 3. The method as in claim 1 and deforming said container wall and said tag ring element during said securing.
 4. The method of simultaneously securing a closure flange and a tag ring element to a container wall in a single punch press operation comprising the steps of positioning an internally threaded closure flange in a lower die sub-assembly, retaining an annular tag ring element on an upper die sub-assembly operatively positioned above said lower die sub-assembly, positioning a container wall between said upper and lower die sub-assemblies, closing said upper die sub-assembly on said lower die sub-assembly and permanently securing said closure flange and said tag ring element about an opening formed in said container wall.
 5. The method as in claim 4 and forming said tag ring element with an upstanding neck from a flat blank during said securing.
 6. The method as in claim 4 and deforming said container wall and said tag ring element during said forming.
 7. The method of reinforcing container wall openings and providing identifying tag and closure seal affixing means comprising the steps of horizontally supporting a flat annular tag ring element having a central opening, horizontally positioning a container wall section in vertically spaced relationship below said tag ring element, performing said container wall to form an opening therein, drawing a neck in said container wall section upwardly about said opening, simultaneously drawing a neck upwardly from said tag ring element about the opening therein with said tag ring element neck closely surrounding said container wall opening neck and inserting an internally threaded closure flange within said container wall opening neck.
 8. The method as in claim 7 and deforming said flange so as to permanently secure said flange and said tag ring element to said container wall about said opening neck. 